Changes

By June '''January 1973 ''': [[GWR 4141|4141]], [[GWR Large Prairie 5164|5164]], [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] and [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]] all arrived on 6 January. The convoy left [[Barry Scrapyard]] behind ‘Peak’ diesel No 157 for Kidderminster (still then a British Rail yard), where it arrived in a whiteout of heavy frost. Two other vehicles were in the consist: the atmosphere on [[Former Residents#Notes |tender from scrapped ex-LMS ‘Black Five’ 44888]] and [[BR Standard Class 5 73129 | 73129]]. After the railway had noticeably improvedSVR locos were detached at Kidderminster, this loco continued its journey to Derby. An EGM of From Kidderminster Sulzer Type 2 No 7655 tripped the Guarantee Company overwhelmingly voted in favour of raising money vehicles to build the SVR in [[Bewdley Down Yard]], together with [Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge[GWR 6045 Bow-end Composite|By-Pass Bridge6045]], thus ‘saving [[BridgnorthGWR 9615 Kitchen Diner First|9615]] for a second time’and [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880|26880]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljan23 Branch Lines, January 2023]</ref>

Locomotives arriving during '''February 1973 were; [[GWR 4141|4141]], [[GWR Large Prairie 5164|5164]], [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] and [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]] which all arrived ''':The first stage of the Light Railway Order for the southern end of the line came into effect on 6 January, [[28 February. The British Railways Board (Severn Valley) Light Railway Order 1973 granted BR Standard 2MT 78019|78019]] which arrived the power (to be transferred to the SVR) to operate as a Light Railway from the existing boundary at Alveley to a point 247 yards east of the [[Barry ScrapyardStourport Road Bridge]] on 12 March, . Power was also granted to operate over the [[GWR Pannier 7714|7714Stourport Branch]] which arrived on 29 March, from Bewdley to a point 302 yards south of the southern portal of [[BR Riddles 4MT 75069|75069Mount Pleasant Tunnel]] which arrived on 31 March, and this section having been purchased by the SVR for an additional £100.<ref>[[LMS Stanier Mogul 42968Bibliography#Books |Stanier Mogul 42968Marshall (1989), p184]] which arrived on 14 December.</ref>

In November '''March 1973''':Following an Extraordinary General Meeting of the [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|Guarantee Company]] on 11 March and a special Joint Meeting of the boards of SVR(H) and the Guarantee Company 6 days later, an announcement was made that [[GWR Pannier 5764Sir Gerald Nabarro]] would step down as Chairman of both Boards. He was replaced as SVR(H) Chairman by [[The Earl of Lindsay|5764Viscount Garnock]] . It was involved in also agreed that nominated directors of both the Guarantee Company and the filming of SVRA would sit on the BBC children's serial ''SVR(H) Board.:[[BR Standard 2MT 78019|78019]] arrived from [[Barry Scrapyard]] on 12 March, [[GWR Pannier 7714|7714]] arrived on 29 March and [[Carrie's WarBR Riddles 4MT 75069|75069]]''arrived on 31 March.

Having left '''June 1973''':By June 1973 the atmosphere on the railway had noticeably improved. An EGM of the Guarantee Company overwhelmingly voted in favour of raising money to build the [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|By-Pass Bridge]], thus ‘saving [[Bridgnorth]] for a second time’.: The Great Marquess was steamed for the first time since arrival the previous year. With an axle weight in excess of 19 tons, it exceeded the limit of 17 tons 12 cwt in the SVR's Light Railway Order granted in May 1970. A condition of the locomotive's move to the SVR was that it could be used there once restored, Sir Gerald Nabarro died on 18 November so the locomotive after a number of test runs in 1973and one further steaming in 1974, was therefore stored while discussions took place over a possible transfer to another railway. He had suffered two stokes during 1972 and had recently retired from In the meantime, a program of work was underway to upgrade the line, including replacement of several bridges, to raise the House permitted limit to a figure in excess of Commons 20 tons. This upgrade was achieved in due to ill healthcourse.

In December '''November 1973''':Having left the SVR, Sir Gerald Nabarro died on 18 November 1973. He had suffered two stokes during 1972 and had recently retired from the House of Commons due to ill health.:[[WD 193 ShropshireGWR Pannier 5764|WD 1935764]] operated all was involved in the filming of the BBC children's serial ''[[Christmas services|Santa servicesCarrie's War]]''.

The Great Marquess was steamed for the first time since arrival the previous year. With an axle weight in excess of 19 tons, it exceeded the limit of 17 tons 12 cwt in the SVR's Light Railway Order granted in May 1970. A condition of the locomotive's move to the SVR was that it could be used there once restored, so the locomotive was therefore stored while discussions took place over a possible transfer to another railway'December 1973''':[[LMS Stanier Mogul 42968|Stanier Mogul 42968]] arrived on 14 December. In the meantime a program of work was underway to upgrade the line, including replacement of several bridges, to raise :[[WD 193 Shropshire|WD 193]] operated all the permitted limit to a figure in excess of 20 tons. This upgrade was achieved in due course[[Christmas services|Santa services]].

:An event was held at Castle Hall, Bridgnorth to mark the 19th 10th Anniversary of the formation of the Severn Valley Railway Society.

:Four SVR engines and three carriages attended the [[Rail 150 ]] celebrations at Shildon, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. [[LMR 600 Gordon|600 Gordon]] travelled light engine to Shildon, later followed by a three coach train comprising [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773 | 8233]] (pilot), [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106 | 43106]], Clapham Buffet 9631, [[LMS 26986 Brake Third Corridor | LMS 26986]] and LNER Passenger Brake 4236. [[GWR 813 Saddle Tank|813]], which has been cosmetically restored for the event, went by road. Future SVR resident [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall]] (1977-1996) also took part.

The 1976 timetable included 118 running days between 6 March 6th and 31 October 31st, now with 735 trains in each direction. As they year opened, negotiations with BR were in progress over the proposed [[Kidderminster|Kidderminster Terminus]]. The SVR was also negotiating with BR for the SVR to become an approved steam depot for main line running.

'''May 1979''': BR agreed to allow through excursions onto the SVR. The first such excursion, oganised organised by the Monmouthshire Railway Society, arrived at [[Bewdley]] from Cardiff.

'''July 1979''': The Didcot Great Western Society's veteran Wantage Tramway locomotive "Shannon" was used for filming scenes of the BBC children's drama television series ''[[God's Wonderful Railway]]'' on the SVR, but was not steamed while here, being propelled or pulled into shot. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Gods_Wonderful_Railway_Screenshot_Shannon1.jpg|Shanon as the contractors' locomotiveGods_Wonderful_Railway_Screenshot_Shannon2.jpg|Shanon crossing Victoria Bridge</gallery>